The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-07-29
MISS GRACE,S HAPPY THOUGHT.
Aunt EmilY,''


Mamie and Saidee Girton were behind her
and VIII Douglass brought up in the rear;
SO, treasured as to the possibility of an ac-
cident, Mrs. Girton smiled at her wards
eager face, quite sure that Grace had n
favor to ask, and quite sure, also, that the
'%'favor" was to be allowed to do some
thing for somebody else.
"Well, my dear, what is it )"
But Graee's first words came as n very
decided surprise.
"You know Saturday is my birthday,
Auntie."
"The most important day in the year"
added Will.
"And I've beer thinking that, if you
didn't mind, I should like
"To celebrate it in a manner beftting
the OCCASION" put in Will.
Grace slipped her pretty hand over his
lips. CHOW do be quiet, while l tell
Auntie. | want to have a picnic, Auntie,
over in Fades woods, with all the chill
dren-all the little girls that is, that | can
gather together in the village. Do say
that l may"
'But there are not more than half a dozen
children" said Mrs. Girton, d%oubtfully.
"Oh, but Auntie, I mean all the chill
dren. You know the poor little things
don't have much fun, and really it's a SIM
pie affair. If you'll let Jane boil a ham
and make a good supply of bread, I'll
make a lot of cookies and plain cake, and
buy a few pounds of candy, and that's all
we'll need"
."Whercas, last year., when she was
eighteen, we needed music, and salad, and
ices, and ,%jcllies, and Chinese lanterns, and
a new gown, and other things too numer-
u to mention" said Will, persuasively.
"You see. Aunt Emily, this is decidedly
more economical"
Mrs. Girton laughed. "Do as you like,
my dear; only leave us enough in the
house to last over Sunday. Jane shall boil
the ham, and bake all the bread and cake
you want. Only You must see how many
children there are. Twenty? Fifty? |
haven't the dimmest idea, myself"
"About thirty; certainly Lot more than
thirty-fve," said Grace, who had made a
rapid calculation. ''In the first place,
there are Mamie and Saidee, and l know
Mrs. Merton will let her children come.
Then there's the doctors little daughter,
and a child who is staying at the rectory."
six said Will; land for number seven
I suggest that baby at the blacksmith's"
-Four years old? Isn't that rather
young?" said Mrs. Girton.
evil and she are great friends" said
Grace, smiling. eve certainly must have
her, and for the rest, I'll run over and ask
Mrs. Merton for a list of names. She
knows everybody"
''The very thing" said Mrs. Girton.
~''Suppose you go over there now. You
will have time before tea-only she will be
sure to want you to stay"
And Mrs. Merton did. "My dear Grace,
how good Of you! Come in, the tea-bcll
has just rung," she began cordially, going
forward to meet the young lady, and draw
ing her arm through her own to lead her
into the house. On a begging expedition
did you say? Well, we'll discuss it at our
leisure, and you can lay it before Mr.. Mer-
ton"
''Ah,'' said that gentleman, show lucky
it is that l slipped a dime into Polly's
charity purse this morning! Perhaps if
the cause is very deserving, I may be in
duced to contribute another stray penny.
Let us hear what it is, Miss Grace, and let
me give you some of these strawberries"
81 only want you children, and some
advice this time said Grace, detailing her
plan.
my children you shall have, on condi-
ton that you let me fill 4 corner in one of
your HAMPERS said Mrs. Merton, prompt
ly. "You can use corn-beef sandwiches,
/ know, and hard-boiled eggs 90. Then
doughnuts, and some cake, and, oh! by the
way, what can you give them to drink ?
Let me send a big tin of milk over, I'll
sec that some ice goes with it to keep it
cool. Then you can have'-
But there Grace fairly put her hands
over her ears. 'Dear Mrs. Merton, we
have provisions enough for an army
you'll need them all; and, by the way,
let me suggest that You tell the children
to wear plain calico frocks. 1t puts them
on something resembling equality"
sI'll remember; thank you for thinking
of it. And now about the children? |
told Auntie that they would number from
thirty to thirty-five."
Mrs. Merton stopped to think. Eyes;
I'll write out a list after tea SO that we
shall be sure to remember everybody.
Tom, couldn't you spare one of the farm
wagons to take them al to the picnic
ground?"
'tLet them walk over, and in the after
noon III send a couple OF teams to bring
everybody home. Don't you think, Miss
Grace, that it would be we'll TO have three
or four lads to help you keep order, and to
fetch and carry? Your brother will help,
| know, and I'll give Robert a day off.
He's a young fellow who came to us in the
spi;ng, and we all think highly of him.
He's jpss the one TO help you, for nothing
please him better than 20 gather a crowd
of children about him. Then there's the
- HI 49,. Va, 1npff l-nnur